Ray Ison, Professor in Systems at the UK Open University since 1994, is a member of the Applied Systems Thinking in Practice Group. From 2008-15 he also developed and ran the Systemic Governance Research Program at Monash University, Melbourne. In this blog he reflects on contemporary issues from a systemic perspective.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The water cycle is so much more apparent in Iceland

A global water crisis exists largely because of overexploitation of freshwater resources. Humans have all too often intervened in the water cycle in unsustainable ways. This is happening in river catchments and cities as well. With over 50% of the world's population living in cities it is increasingly important that the cyclic, systemic, nature of the water cycle be better appreciated. Current and future interventions need to be assessed in systemic terms.

As these images from Iceland show the interconnectd nature of the water cycle is apparent in ways that are not so obvious in other countries. And the water is great to drink.

In Reykjavik yesterday I passed small children playing under the sprinkler hose. It is after all mid-summer even if only 15 degrees! Context is everything.